Small sample size

hes a gentle giant

So far, he’s played a lot better offensively when he’s in or near the paint. He should be a threat from the inside and the outside. That would make him almost impossible to stop.

thanks to Nate’s Brilliant annoyingly simplistic offensive sets, Even if LMA trys to get low he is double teamed and kicks it back out to broy or he just fades back at 18 or 20 feet and shoots.

Sophia

this has been a prominent criticism of his since he came into the league.

I think playing opposite Oden will help him a lot, but I don’t think he’ll ever vastly improve in either. That’s not to say his numbers won’t go up, just that he won’t be a 20/10 guy with a 5-free throw attempts per game average every year.

In this instance, what you see is what you get.

So we need to get him ticked every game. When he does get mad and go inside, he is unstoppable.

reminds me a lot of Sheed in this sense. Doesn’t seem to want to post up unless he’s mad. Similar games just different attitudes…kind of an oximoron, huh? woops

LMA is one of the best perimeter defenders on this entire team. Using him inside to get defensive rebounds wastes a lot of skill, and puts him in a position at which he does not excel. I like the idea of using LMA inside on offense for the mean time, but eventually that spot is for Oden. LaMarcus has excellent touch inside, and every time he gets near the point in a position to make a shot, its money. That being said, without Greg, he’s going to get muscled out of that area because opponents will be able to put their best interior defender on him because Joel is essentially worthless on offense.

He’s been outplayed by his man in all three games. Granted, he’s gone against 3 of the top PFs in the NBA, but I really need to see him shoot a better percentage from the field (none of this sub-50% stuff from my 4 man, please) and grab more rebounds.

One thing I did love was his athletic blocks in the Spurs game.

LaMarcus is still not comfortable inside. Perhaps it is not worth making him something he is not. Perhaps he should continue to be a jump shooter… but if he is, we need him to hit a lot more consistently than he has so far.

So far I haven’t seen him take the next step in his development. If he wants to be an all-star, he needs to stop doing Joe Smith impressions.

NBA 07-08 Jump Shot Stats

Tim Duncan – eFG 37.5%
Zach Randolph – eFG 38.9%
Bosh – eFG 41.4%
LMA – eFG 41.5%
Bargnani – eFG 43.1%
Travis Outlaw – eFG 43.2%
David West – eFG 43.4%
Joe Smith – eFG 43.5%
Carlos Boozer – eFG 44.7%
Pau Gasol – eFG 45.3%
Channing Frye – eFG 45.4%
Rasheed Wallace – eFG 46.8%
Garnett – eFG 47.2%
Nowitzki – eFG 49.7%

*source – 82games.com

The difference between Bosh and LMA is that Bosh actually gets to the line over 8 times a game and shoots less jumpers. Bosh sets up his face up game by making enough jumpers to keep the defense honest.

LMA is similar to Outlaw in that they are both inefficient at scoring, poor at attacking the hoop, abysmal rebounding the ball, and seldom draw fouls. Only one is getting a free pass from fans because he still has the “potential” tag. LMA is not a good perimeter shooter. If the coaches don’t force him into the paint or LMA continues to be perimeter oriented, then I would re-evaluate his future with the team, or at least how much of a role he will have. I will wait until the end of the season before making conclusive evaluations. So far, not impressed.

Can’t have your starting PF afraid to venture into the paint.